Cherry

CHERRIES IN HISTORY

Cherries are part of the Rosaceae family, which includes almonds, apricots, peaches and plums. Black cherry (Prunus serotina) trees are deciduous and native to eastern North America, and the cherries have a tart taste compared to other, sweet varieties.

The Chinese ate cherries around 600 BC but sweet cherries date back only to around 70 BC.

The word ‘cherry’ comes from the Turkish town of Cerasus, which was famed for its cherries.

The earliest known mention of cherries is in the History Of Plants by Theophrastus (372-272 BC). However, cherry pips have been found in Stone Age caves.

In 73 BC the Roman general Lucullus brought sour cherry trees to Rome from Turkey after his victory over Mithridates 6th, King of Pontus in North East Asia Minor. Lucullus named the cherry tree ‘Cerasus’ after a town of that name in what is now Turkey.

The ruby-red color and tangy taste of cherries ensured their popularity amongst the Greeks, Romans and Chinese. Indeed General Lucullus committed suicide in 58 BC when he realized he was running out of cherries.

It is said old Roman roads can be traced by the wild cherry trees that grew from the stones spat out by legions as they marched across the country.

The cherry was brought to Britain by the Romans in the 1st century AD.

The oldest-known cherry recipes were in The Forme of Cury. Written around 1390, The Forme of Cury was the first cookbook written in English. The book advised to pick cherries on June 24th and “do away with the stones.”

The nickname ‘Cherry-pickers’ was given to the 11th Hussars after they were attacked by the French while raiding a cherry orchard in Spain during the Peninsular War in 1811.

The first cherry blossom trees were planted in Washington D.C. on March 27, 1912.  The gift of the cherry blossom trees was intended to symbolize the friendship between the United States and Japan. The first shipment of 2,000 trees arrived in Washington D.C. in 1910, but unfortunately, they were found to be infested with insects and had to be destroyed. In 1912, a new shipment of 3,020 trees was sent and successfully planted along the Tidal Basin. 

On November 18, 1938, a group of approximately 150 women, led by Eleanor "Cissy" Patterson, the owner and editor of the Washington Times-Herald, descended upon the construction site of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., to protest the planned removal of cherry trees. Their actions, later dubbed the "Cherry Tree Rebellion," captured national attention and ultimately led to a significant reduction in the number of trees slated for removal.

The United States gave cherry tree cuttings back to Japan in 1952 because the parent stock was struggling from neglect during World War II.

Today, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is held annually in Washington DC to celebrate the beauty of the cherry blossoms and the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan.

Japanese cherry tree

The expression “to cherry pick”, meaning to select only the best, dates back only to the 1960s.

Hot cherry stones were once used in bed-warming pans.

Since the 1930s, the UK has lost over 95 per cent of its cherry orchards. Most are now imported.

CHERRY FUN FACTS

The world record for spitting a cherry stone is 93 feet 6.5 inches. It  was set by Brian Krause at the Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship at Eau Claire, Michigan, in 2003.

Cherries can lower levels of inflammation in the body sufficently enough to alleviate arthritis symptoms and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and Diabetes.

There are more than 1,000 varieties of cherry worldwide.

Turkey produces more cherries than any other country. The United States comes second.

Helicopters are used in cherry farming to dry cherries after it rains so they don’t soak in too much water split, and can't be picked and sold.

The cherries from an average cherry tree are enough to make 28 cherry pies.

There is a city in Washington named 'George'. Every year, George, Washington celebrates the 4th of July by baking the world's largest cherry pie.

Serving ice cream on cherry pie was once illegal in Kansas

Sources Daily Mail, Daily Express, Food For Thought by Ed Pearce